Page 17 of Divine Obsession

When I was absent, Zach was always my second in command in regard to the basketball team. And when I would eventually leave this year, he’d be more than ready to take over as Captain.

I’d been gifted with a high IQ of 160, that I hadn’t put to waste. In a few months, I’d become one of the youngest PhD graduates of Columbia University, and officially start working forSu.

Though, what I was really interested in was getting to work for my family’sreal businesswithout any more distractions.

Our multi-billion-dollar company had been built on the shoulders of an underground hacking empire and the tight connections to the biggest criminal organizations around the world due to being their main weapons dealer – hence, how our parents became friends all those years ago.

“You should be leading by example.”

As team captain, I played Point Guard, who also went by several other names, includingThe One,Playmaker, and my personal favorite:the coach on the floor.

I side-eyed him just in time to catch the shit-eating grin on his face.

“Bet you pretended you were captain the whole time.”

He chuckled. “Any chance you could graduate yesterday?”

“Alright, everyone. Take your seats. I hope you had a relaxing winter break…”

Our chuckles died down as we faced forward and listened to the professor rattle on about his time off and what we were going to study this term. Neither Zach nor I took any notes. We were only taking this class – communication studies – because coach insisted that it made us better communicators on the court.

Half an hour passed by with nothing out of the ordinary. I was resting my head on my hand, nearly falling asleep as the teacher analyzed body language.

With the corner of my eye, I caught the lecture hall door by the front, open slowly. Whoever did so, didn’t step inside, but instead remained behind the frame when the professor turned to look straight at them.

He checked his watch. “You’re late.”

“I apologize, Mr Jones. It’s my first day. I got lost.”

The soft voice entangled its way through my mind, sparking recognition. It woke me up like an ice-water bucket.

I immediately straightened and leaned forward in my seat.

“Ah, yes. Miss Moretti. Well… Just don’t let it happen again.”

“Thank you.” Natalia stepped in, closing the door behind her, and took the first available seat at the front, in the center of the first row – like the perfect student.

My eyes ran down her body, taking in her jeans, pink jumper and matching pink designer bag.

I must have stared at the back of her head of caramel hair for five minutes before Zach cleared his throat, breaking me out of the spell.

Rolling my shoulders, I attempted to relax and distract myself by paying attention to the lecture.

For the next hour and a half, I didn’t hear a single word from the professor, but noticed every movement of hers. Every time she checked her phone. Every time she ran a manicured hand through her silky hair. Every time she crossed one of her legs over the other.

I couldn’t shake her off.

When class ended, and she still hadn’t noticed me, I made it my mission to make such a strong impression on her that she’d feel my presence before I even walked into the room. I didn’t take my eyes off her as she flipped her hair over her shoulder and picked up her bag. By the time she was heading towards the door, I was already halfway down the stairs.

“Don’t.”

I turned to Zach, over my shoulder. “What?”

He shook his head and walked off through the back door without saying anything else.

I ignored him and went back to what I was doing.

Natalia.

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